Kunak village hideout of Sulu terrorists gutted in fire

KUNAK: More than 1,500 people were left homeless after a fire razed 150 wooden stilt houses and shops at Kg Pangkalan - the centre of a major security operations a week ago to detain six suspected Sulu terrorists.

A Fire and Rescue Services Department spokesman said on Sunday that 100 wooden houses and some 50 shops in the tightly knitted settlement were destroyed in the fire that began at two houses at around 1.30am.

There have been no reports of any casualties after the fire was brought under control at about 5.20am before being completely put off at 8am.

Kunak firemen were assisted by their counterparts from Tawau as well as civil defence personnel and Rela members.